Sample Letters

Congressional District 6

In this section, we include sample letters to legislators and "letters to the editor" that have been written by CVJers. We do not necessarily endorse any of the views or statements in these letters but provide them to help you develop letters of your own. Although you can certainly borrow ideas or language from these samples, it's always better to use your own words when writing letters of this kind.

In my 71 years, I have never been anywhere close to being this concerned about the very future of our country and democracy. I almost don’t know where to start, but will try:

- Here’s the elephant in the room: we have a mentally unstable President who can’t stop telling blatant lies and making inflammatory statements;

- Congress, and particularly you in the Senate, are in a very important position to stand up to him and his administration. Will you? I hope so. Will you put partisan politics ahead of country? I hope not.

- Donald Trump is putting gag orders on EPA, NIH and USDA employees! Does this not concern you?

- He wants to seize oil of countries we invade – putting our troops, who fight alongside that country’s troops, at major risk;

- He wants to torture prisoners!

- He has nominated many unsuitable candidates for cabinet positions - I’m asking you to vote “no” in their cases:

Betsy DeVos, who is totally unqualified for Education Secretary, period;

Scott Pruitt, who has demonstrated he wants to dismantle the EPA. Don’t Republicans care about clean air and water?!

Tom Price for HHS – seriously ethically challenged, to say the least;

Jeff Sessions – with a record of bigotry - to be AG – really?

Steven Mnuchin for Treasury, after all the talk about draining the swamp and Hillary Clinton Goldman Sacks connections?

On a positive note – General Mattis for Defense Secretary, who is extremely qualified.

The list is almost endless.

One of my biggest concerns is the glaring hypocrisy of the Republican Party. If any one of 40 things Donald Trump did or said came from Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, Republicans would have created a months-long fury of complaints, talking points, news conferences, investigations, special committees, etc.

To be clear, I am in favor of a two-party system for balance, but where both sides rely on facts and science and are determined to work together for the benefit of all citizens. I am not seeing that at all with this President, and am relying on you to stand up and push back as needed, which will be often.

I am one of your constituents so I read with interest an article in the January 26th issue of the New York Times entitled: As Trump Thunders, G.O.P. Lawmakers Duck and Cover. It noted that you, “Senator Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina, distinguished himself with the most adorable distraction: He cradled a Boston terrier puppy, stroking her chin, as he greeted reporters eager to ask about Mr. Trump this week in the basement of the Capitol.

‘Her name is Tilly,’ he said, before politely shrugging off questions about Mr. Trump.”

I like dogs and I’m sure that Tilly is very cute. However, I would prefer that you answer questions posed by the press and hope that you will answer some of my questions.

1. Do you support building a wall between the United States and Mexico?

If yes, Why?

What are the advantages?

How will it be paid for?

Do you believe that taxpayer money should be used?

If no, why not?

2. What is your reaction to falsehoods (lies) being disseminated by the White House, including but not limited to

Sizes of crowds at the inauguration?

Millions of votes being cast illegally by immigrants

Do you believe that there is such a thing as “alternative facts?”

3. Do you think people from predominantly Muslim countries should be banned from entering the United States?

If yes, why?

If no, why not?

4. Why do you think the ACA should be repealed?

5. Do you believe all Americans have a right to healthcare as comprehensive as what you and other members of Congress have?

If yes, why?

If no, why not?

6. If the ACA is repealed what do you propose in its place?

How will whatever you propose ensure that all Americans can afford adequate health care?

7. Do you believe that women have the right to control their own bodies?

If yes, why?

If no, why not?

8. Do you believe all American workers have the right to a living wage?

If yes, why

If no, why not?

9. Do you believe in a free and independent press?

Why or why not?

I look forward to getting specific answers to my questions.

Sincerely,

Senator Burr and Role of Russian Hacking on U.S. Presidential Election of 2016

Congratulations to Senator Richard Burr, North Carolina’s senior senator and Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

On Friday January 13, Senator Burr, and the Committee’s Vice-Chair Mark Warner, Democrat from Virginia, announced that the Committee will hold hearings to investigate the intelligence report on the role of Russian hacking in the 2016 Presidential election, as well as any links between American political campaign personnel and the Russians during the campaign.

Senator Burr is to be commended for seeking the truth about these disturbing allegations. By doing so he puts the security of our American democracy above purely partisan politics.

Thank you, Senator Burr, for defending our nation and our democracy through the work of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.